The Way of the Forest

Proceed

The eldest son of Toruk Makto is like the First Songs, but in motion.

Even in the face of danger, Ao'nung couldn't take his eyes off of him. It was an elegant, beautiful dance of death between a ferocious beast and a beautiful hunter. The beast makes a swipe at his head again, which he ducks under, maneuvering to its flank and bringing his bow back to whack at its head. This time the beast rears back onto its hide most legs, front four flailing as its roar tears through the forest.

Neteyam's face is completely impassive and focused, not letting the beast leave his sight as he spins to face it, crouching low. He dips down so that his stomach rests just above his thighs and his chest is pointing toward the ground. The water pours down his lean body as he rests the back of his hand with his bow against his hips. His tail lazily swings back and forth as he studies his opponent in front of him.

The beast stomps back and forth in front of him, aggravated, massive flat tail lashing behind it in loud whooshes. The beast growls, face fans spreading as it roars and charges again. Neteyam hops off to the side, drawing the beast toward him and not toward his family. Once the beast gets in right on top of him, rearing back on his back two legs, front four swiping wildly, Neteyam tenses up again, face stone still and focused.

Neteyam ducks under four paws, moving off to his right, until he's under the beast's ribs, bringing his bow up in a hard crack against the flank of the beast. It snarls dropping down to all of its feet, turning to face Neteyam, once more. It charges again. Neteyam and the beast spin around one another, taking swipes at each other. Neteyam seems to be aggravating it more than hurting it, and thankfully the beast hasn't landed a blow yet.

At one point, Neteyam slips in the sloshy mud, sliding down onto his side. Tuk wails in terror, lunging for her brother but Lo'ak yanks her back, shoving her into Spider's arms before Neteyam scoops up a handful of the mud off of his chest and throws it at the beast's face. It coughs, jerking its head back and shaking wildly to try and get the mud from its eyes. One massive paw claws at its face as it half turns away.

Ao'nung is hypnotized by the beautiful Na'vi as he spins back up onto his feet, falling back into that same defensive stance, bow resting on the back of his hips as he inches his way back, giving himself a bit more room to move without the beast being right on top of him. His long, strong body moving through the rain, kicking up mud around their feet. Since falling, most of the glowing freckles on his body are covered in mud except for a few on his left shoulder and the crown lit up on his forehead. His cheeks and chin have mud coating it.

Lo'ak makes to stand. To do something to help his brother. Ao'nung catches a tremble of fear in the younger brother's hands as he balls them into fists. Tuk is crying, terrified for her brother's life as she clings to the Sky Person, large golden eyes focused on the oldest Sully brother.

Despite how beautifully the other Na'vi is avoiding being shredded by those monstrous claws, despite it being blinded by the mud and swing wildly, Ao'nung knows that this beast has to be an alpha predator. Lo'ak's and Tuk's reactions are all the proof he needs.

Ao'nung looks to the beautiful Na'vi before him. His face is smooth, focused. Not a hint of fear or trepidation. He's not even hissing or snarling - hasn't since he got here. Just staring unnervingly steady at the beast, eyes wide and trained on his opponent. The light rain is slightly clearing the mud from his body, in semi clear rivets down his torso and face, as he studies the beast in front of him, scanning for a weakness as he continues to lean out of the way of the furious swipes.

He hops to the side, waiting for the beast to swing its head wildly, blinking furiously to clear its vision. As its head is turned slightly toward him, Neteyam, with both hands on his bow, cracks it hard enough against the side of the beast's head that his bow splinters, nearly splitting in two. The beast cries out in pain, blood flying from its lips and disappearing into the mud. He barely spares his bow a glance, tossing it away and grabbing out the knife he has strapped to his thigh.